Thermal and cut resistant glove

ABSTRACT

A thermal and cut resistant glove includes a main body portion that encloses the palm and back of a user&#39;s hand, finger portions and a thumb portion. The glove is knitted as a single layer of material formed from a yarn that is a composite yarn having a core constructed of one or more core filaments and a sheath constructed of two or more filaments. The glove exhibits a temperature differential of no more than about 1.3 degrees C. when the front or rear side of the glove is positioned between a refrigerated cold source and a thermocouple after a period of 15 minutes, exhibits a cut resistance of at least about 3500 grams when measured in accordance with ASTM Standard F2992-15, Standard Test Method for Measuring Cut Resistance of Materials Used in Protective Clothing with Tomodynamometer (TDM-100), exhibits an abrasion resistance of at least 2500 cycles when measured tested in accordance with ASTM Standard D3884-07, Standard Guide for Abrasion Resistance of Textile Fabrics, exhibits a time increase of no more than about 25 percent to perform a stated task when measured in accordance with ASTM Standard F2010-10, Standard Test Method for Evaluation of Glove Effects on Wearer Hand Dexterity.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a glove that is thermal and cut resistant. Thermal resistant hand protection wear, such as gloves and mittens are well known. Typically, such thermal resistant hand protection is in the form of cold or heat resistant hand protection taking the form of a large mitts or gloves (often thick cotton), and in some instances, silicone or the like. And, typically, such hand protection is bulky as there is a need for a mass between the cold or heat source and the user's hand.

Cut resistant hand protection is also well known. Such hand protection may take the form of glove or mitt that includes metal or high-strength polymeric material (fibers) that are knitted into the glove or mitt fabric. As with thermal resistant hand protection, some cut resistant wear may also be bulky to increase the mass between the cutting source, for example, the knife, and the user's hand. Other than sheer bulk, the materials that provide cut resistance are different from those that provide thermal resistance.

As such, in order for hand protection to afford both thermal and cut resistance, a glove or mitt must use multiple layers; at least one layer for each of cut resistant material and thermal resistant material. And, increasing the number of layers and/or the thickness of the layers reduces the dexterity of the glove or mitt user. While reduced dexterity may be acceptable in some instances, it is not acceptable in other uses, such as in the food service industry. Moreover, multi-layer gloves and mitts also tend to add complexity and cost to fabrication of such hand protection.

Accordingly, there is a need for hand protection that provides both thermal and cut-resistance in a single layer of material. Desirably, such a glove or mitt is sufficiently thin that it provides a user with high level of dexterity, such as that needed in the food service industry.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide thermal and cut resistant hand protection. The disclosed hand protection provides both thermal and cut-resistance in a single layer of material. Such hand protection, in the form of a glove or mitt, is sufficiently thin that it provides a user with high level of dexterity, such as that needed in the food service industry.

In an embodiment, the thermal and cut resistant glove includes a main body portion having a front side and a rear side that that encloses the palm and back of a user's hand. In an embodiment, the glove includes finger portions and a thumb portion. The main body portion, the finger portions and the thumb portion are each knitted as a single layer of material formed from a yarn. In an embodiment, the yarn is a composite yarn having a core constructed of one or more core filaments and a sheath constructed of two or more filaments. The glove exhibits a temperature differential of no more than about 1.3 degrees C. when the front or rear side of the glove is positioned between a refrigerated cold source and a thermocouple after a period 15 minutes. The glove further exhibits a cut resistance of at least about 3500 grams when measured in accordance with ASTM Standard F2992-15, Standard Test Method for Measuring Cut Resistance of Materials Used in Protective Clothing with Tomodynamometer (TDM-100) and an abrasion resistance of at least 2500 cycles when measured tested in accordance with ASTM Standard D3884-07, Standard Guide for Abrasion Resistance of Textile Fabrics. Further, the glove exhibits a time increase of no more than about 25 percent to complete a manual dexterity task when measured in accordance with ASTM Standard F2010-10, Standard Test Method for Evaluation of Glove Effects on Wearer Hand Dexterity.

In an embodiment, the core of the yarn is formed from a stainless steel filament. The core can include an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) filament. In an embodiment, the sheath is formed from two wraps of filaments, the two wraps of filaments being in opposite directions. In embodiments, one of the sheath filaments can be a polyester fiber and the other of the sheath filaments can be a polyester fiber. In an embodiment, one of the sheath filaments is an antimicrobial polyester.

These and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following detailed description, in conjunction with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an embodiment of a thermal and cut resistant glove;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an embodiment of the yarn construction for the thermal and cut resistant glove;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are graphical illustrations of the cold contact test results for embodiments of the thermal and cut resistant glove and known gloves with and without thermal liners, in which in FIG. 3A, the results are shown in degrees C. and in FIG. 3B, the results are shown in a comparative analysis relative to a baseline of an embodiment of the thermal and cut resistant glove;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are graphical illustrations of the cut resistance test results for embodiments of the thermal and cut resistant glove and known gloves in which in FIG. 4A, the results are shown in grams and in FIG. 4B, the results are shown in a comparative analysis relative to a baseline of an embodiment of the thermal and cut resistant glove;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are graphical illustrations of the abrasion resistance test results for embodiments of the thermal and cut resistant glove and known gloves in which in FIG. 5A, the results are shown in cycles and in FIG. 5B, the results are shown in a comparative analysis relative to a baseline of an embodiment of the thermal and cut resistant glove;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are graphical illustrations of the puncture resistance test results for embodiments of the thermal and cut resistant glove and known gloves in which in FIG. 6A, the results are shown in Newtons (N) and in FIG. 6B, the results are shown in a comparative analysis relative to a baseline of an embodiment of the thermal and cut resistant glove; and

FIGS. 7A and 7B are graphical illustrations of the dexterity test results for embodiments of the thermal and cut resistant glove and known gloves with and without thermal liners, in which in FIG. 7A, the results are shown in percent time increase to complete a manual dexterity task and in FIG. 7B, the results are shown in a comparative analysis relative to a baseline of an embodiment of the thermal and cut resistant glove.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the present disclosure is susceptible of embodiments in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification and is not intended to limit the disclosure to the specific embodiment illustrated.

Referring now to the figures and in particular to FIG. 1 there is shown an embodiment of a thermal and cut resistant glove 10. The glove 10 provides both thermal, e.g., cold resistance, and cut-resistance in a single layer of material. The glove 10 is sufficiently thin that it provides a user with a high level of dexterity, while maintaining excellent resistance to cold and abrasion/cutting.

In an embodiment, the glove 10 is formed from a main body portion 12 that encloses the palm 14 and back (not shown) of a user's hand, finger portions 16 and a thumb portion 18. The glove 10 may include a cuff 20 or other portions around or about the user's wrist, such as a strap or the like. In embodiments, the glove 10 can be formed having fourchettes, a separate, stitched on thumb portion, points, quirks, and the like. In embodiments, the glove may be formed in a seamless, knit construction. In the various constructions, the portions, e.g., fourchettes, points, if used, are joined to one another, as by stitching, along a portion of their respective peripheries, leaving an opening 22 at the uppermost wrist (or arm) portion for the user to put the glove 10 on the user's hand.

The glove 10 is knitted as a single layer of material formed from a yarn. A section of an embodiment of the yarn of the glove, is indicated generally at 24 in FIG. 2. The yarn 24 is a composite yarn with a core 26 constructed of filaments 28 and a sheath layer 30 constructed of one or more filaments 32, such as those indicated at 32 a and 32 b. In some embodiments, the sheath filaments 32 are upwound around a single or multiple fiber core 26. The core 26 may be formed from, for example, a stainless steel. Furthermore, while two filaments are illustrated in FIG. 2, the core 26 may instead be a single filament 28. In some embodiments, the sheath filaments 32 can include one type of material, or a number of different types of fiber material. The sheath 30 may be formed from one or more wraps of fibers as shown. For example, the sheath 30 may be formed from wraps of fibers of polyester. In some embodiments, the sheath 30 is formed from more than one wrap. In some embodiments, the wrap is formed from an S-wrap S and a Z-wrap Z in which the wraps S, Z are wound in opposite directions.

For purposes of the present disclosure, reference will be made to a “developed prototype thermal and cut resistant glove” or a “developed prototype” which is an embodiment of the thermal and cut resistant glove. Reference will also be made to a “commercial sample”, which is a glove commercially available from Wells Lamont Industrial, LLC under the product name/code LN10. Also referred to herein is a “competitor A” glove, which is a commercially available cut resistant glove, and a “liner”, which is a glove liner commercially available from Wells Lamont Industrial, LLC under the product name/code Polyester String Knit Y5010.

In the developed prototype the core 26 is formed from a strand of 200 denier UHMWPE and a 0.002 inch stainless steel filament. The sheath 30 is formed from a first wrap (the Z-wrap) of 150 denier texturized anti-microbial polyester at 14-15 wraps per inch (WPI). A second wrap (the S-wrap) is formed from a 150 denier texturized polyester at 14-15 WPI. The wraps can be formed from polyester fibers of the same or different colors. A plaiting yarn is knitted into the interior of the glove using a 12/2 spun polyester.

Another embodiment of the present thermal and cut resistant glove has a core 26 that is formed from a strand of 400 denier UHMWPE and a 0.002 inch stainless steel filament. The sheath 30 is formed from a first wrap (the Z-wrap) of 300 denier texturized anti-microbial polyester at about 10 wraps per inch (WPI). A second wrap (the S-wrap) is formed from 2 strands of 150 denier texturized polyester at 10 WPI. Again, the wraps can be formed from fibers of the same or different colors. The knitted structure combines this composite yarn with 1 end of 12/2 spun polyester. A plaiting yarn is knitted into the interior of the glove using 2 ends of 12/2 spun polyester.

Various properties of an embodiment of the developed prototype thermal and cut resistant glove 10 were measured against the commercial sample and competitor A known gloves, some of which were tested with liners. The properties that were measured include cold contact properties, cut resistance properties, abrasion resistance properties, puncture resistance properties and dexterity. The results of the comparisons are shown in FIGS. 3A,3B-7A,7B.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are graphical illustrations of the cold contact test results for the developed prototype of the thermal and cut resistant glove, the commercial sample with and without liners, and the competitor A glove with and without thermal liners. The results in FIG. 3A are shown in degrees C. and in FIG. 3B, the results are shown in a comparative analysis of the relative thermal protection compared to a baseline of the developed prototype thermal and cut resistant glove.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are graphical illustrations of the cut resistance test results for the developed prototype thermal and cut resistant glove, the competitor A glove and the commercial sample glove in which in FIG. 4A, the results are shown in grams and in FIG. 4B, the results are shown in a comparative analysis relative to a baseline of the developed prototype thermal and cut resistant glove.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are graphical illustrations of the abrasion resistance test results for the developed prototype thermal and cut resistant glove, the competitor A glove and the commercial sample glove in which in FIG. 5A, the results are shown in cycles and in FIG. 5B, the results are shown in a comparative analysis relative to a baseline of the developed prototype thermal and cut resistant glove.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are graphical illustrations of the puncture resistance test results for the developed prototype thermal and cut resistant glove and the competitor A glove in which in FIG. 6A, the results are shown in Newtons (N) and in FIG. 6B, the results are shown in a comparative analysis relative to a baseline of the developed prototype thermal and cut resistant glove.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are graphical illustrations of the dexterity test results for the developed prototype thermal and cut resistant glove, the commercial sample with and without liners, the competitor A glove with and without thermal liners, in which in FIG. 7A, the results are shown as percentage time increase to complete a manual dexterity task and in FIG. 7B, the results are shown in a comparative analysis relative to a baseline of the developed prototype thermal and cut resistant glove.

In cold contact testing, the thermal performance of gloves in cold environments was tested. In this test a hotplate serves as a substitute for a wearer's hand. The cold source is a cold block that has been chilled to a specified temperature. A thermocouple is mounted on the hotplate using copper tape, and placed in a cold environment such as a refrigerator. The thermocouple measures the temperature change that would be experienced by the hand over a period of 15 minutes. A swatch of the glove material(s) is placed on the thermocouple, with the “interior” of the glove (the surface of the glove that would be in contact with the user's hand) facing down, on the thermocouple, and the cold block placed on top of the glove material(s). After a period of 15 minutes have elapsed, the temperature change as measured by the thermocouple was recorded as delta-T [ΔT], measured in degrees C.

The cold contact properties of the developed prototype glove were compared to the competitor A glove with and without the liner, and the commercial sample with and without liners. As can be seen from the charts in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the developed prototype glove material, that is, the material that was used to form the developed prototype thermal and cut resistant glove, exhibited less of a reduction in temperature, and thus greater resistance to thermal transfer (greater resistance to cold that would be experienced by the user's hand) than the competitor A glove with and without the liner and the commercial glove without the liner.

The cold contact performance of the developed prototype glove was about −1.3 degrees C., compared to −1.5 and −1.7 degrees C. for the competitor A glove with and without a liner. As for the commercial sample glove, the cold contact performance was −1.9 degrees C. without a liner and −1.2 degrees C. with a liner. As a percentage relative to the developed prototype, the cold contact performance for the competitor A glove with and without the liner was 76% and 87% and 68% for the commercial sample. The cold contact performance of the commercial sample with a liner was about equal to that of the developed prototype. However, as is discussed in detail below, the decrease in other performance characteristics of the commercial sample with a liner far outweighs its about equal cold contact performance.

Cut and abrasion resistance properties of the developed prototype glove were compared to the competitor glove and commercial sample glove, both without liners, the results of which are shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, and 5A and 5B.

Cut resistance was tested in accordance with ASTM Standard F2992-15, Standard Test Method for Measuring Cut Resistance of Materials Used in Protective Clothing with Tomodynamometer (TDM-100). This test method covers the measurement of the cut resistance of a material when mounted on a mandrel and subjected to a cutting edge under a specified load. A cutting edge under a specified load (measured in grams) is moved one time across a specimen mounted on a mandrel. The cut through distance from initial contact to cut through is determined for each load. A series of tests at a minimum of three different loads was performed to establish a range of cut distance at these different loads. The test was repeated using multiple loads (measured in grams) to determine the calculated cutting load at a 20 mm cut through distance for the material.

As can be seen from the charts in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the cut resistance in grams for the developed prototype far exceeded both the competitor A glove and the commercial sample in absolute value (3680 grams v. 3344 grams and 3393 grams, respectively) and in baseline performance, the competitor A glove and the commercial sample glove, were at 90% and 92% of the developed prototype glove.

Abrasion resistance was tested in accordance with ASTM Standard D3884-07, Standard Guide for Abrasion Resistance of Textile Fabrics. This standard covers the determination of the abrasion resistance of textile fabrics using a rotary platform, double-head tester (known as a Taber tester). A specimen is abraded using rotary rubbing action under controlled conditions of pressure and abrasive action. The test specimen, mounted on a platform, turns on a vertical axis against the sliding rotation of two abrading wheels. One abrading wheel rubs the specimen outward toward the periphery and the other, inward toward the center. The resulting abrasion marks form a pattern of crossed arcs over an area of approximately 30 cm². The endpoint of the test is specified in ANSI/ISEA 105-2016, and is when the first thread or yarn is completely broken (and the mounting material can be clearly seen). This is measured in the number of cycles each platform rotates until yarn failure/breakage occurs.

As can be seen from the charts in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the abrasion resistance in cycles for the developed prototype glove was 2542 cycles, compared to 1888 cycles and 1560 cycles for the competitor A glove and the commercial sample, respectively, thus showing the superiority of the developed prototype glove, and in relative terms, the competitor A glove and the commercial sample showed performances of 65% and 37% respectively relative to the developed prototype glove baseline.

Puncture resistance was measured in accordance with Standard EN 388:2003 A specimen of the glove material was placed in a specimen holder and a sharp puncture probes was pushed through the material measuring the force required to push the probe though and to completely puncture the material.

As can be seen from the charts in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the puncture resistance in Newtons for the developed prototype glove was 77.4, compared to 69.4 for the competitor A glove, thus showing the superiority of the developed prototype glove. In relative terms, the competitor A glove sample showed a performance of only 88% relative to the developed prototype glove baseline.

Dexterity was measured in accordance with ASTM Standard F2010-10, Standard Test Method for Evaluation of Glove Effects on Wearer Hand Dexterity. The test was conducted using a Modified Pegboard Test. This test method is used for evaluating hand dexterity while wearing gloves. This test method covers procedures in which the wearer picks up small objects between the thumb and index finger and is suitable for evaluating gloves and other forms of hand protection that allow the wearer to pick up small objects between their thumb and index finger. The time required for a test subject to place pegs into a pegboard is measured without gloves and subsequently while wearing gloves. The additional time required to perform the task while wearing a glove is reported and is used to indicate the effect of a glove on a wearer's dexterity. This additional time is measured and is presented as a percent in increase over barehanded control, and provides how much longer it takes to perform a task with gloves than with bare hands.

As noted above, dexterity testing was conducted on the developed prototype thermal and cut resistant glove, the competitor A glove with and without thermal liners, and the commercial sample with and without liners. As can be seen from the charts in FIGS. 7A and 7B, there was a 24% increase in the time to carry out the task defined in the Standard for the developed prototype glove, compared to a 40% increase and a 107% increase for the competitor A glove without and with thermal liners, respectively, and compared to a 12% and a 44% increase in the commercial sample glove without and with thermal liners, respectively. In dexterity performance relative to the developed prototype glove baseline, the competitor A glove without and with thermal liners showed 89% percent and 60% performance comparison, respectively, and the commercial sample glove without and with thermal liners showed 60% percent and 111% performance comparison, respectively. It will be appreciated that although the commercial sample glove without a liner showed greater dexterity performance, this glove lacks the thermal protection afforded by the developed prototype thermal and cut resistant glove and as thus the dexterity testing of the commercial sample glove without a liner is not a true comparison of gloves having similar thermal and cut resistance characteristics.

As will be appreciated from the present disclosure, hand protection in the form of, for example, a glove, provides both thermal and cut-resistance in a single layer of material. The examples presented provide a glove that is sufficiently thin that it provides a user with high level of dexterity, while also providing increased resistance to cold, such as that needed in the food service industry.

In the present disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular. All patents and published applications referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety, whether or not specifically done so within the text of this disclosure.

It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the relative directional terms such as sides, upper, lower, top, bottom, rearward, forward and the like are for explanatory purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.

From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present disclosure. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A thermal and cut resistant glove, comprising: a main body portion having a front side and a rear side, the main body portion that encloses the palm and back of a user's hand, finger portions; and a thumb portion, wherein the main body portion, the finger portions and the thumb portion are each knitted as a single layer of material formed from a yarn, the yarn being a composite yarn having a core constructed of one or more core filaments and a sheath constructed of two or more filaments, wherein the glove exhibits a temperature differential of no more than about 1.3 degrees C. when the front or rear side of the glove is positioned between a refrigerated cold source and a thermocouple after a period of 15 minutes, wherein the glove exhibits a cut resistance of at least about 3500 grams when measured in accordance with ASTM Standard F2992-15, Standard Test Method for Measuring Cut Resistance of Materials Used in Protective Clothing with Tomodynamometer (TDM-100), wherein the glove exhibits an abrasion resistance of at least 2500 cycles when measured tested in accordance with ASTM Standard D3884-07, Standard Guide for Abrasion Resistance of Textile Fabrics, and wherein in a dexterity test, the glove exhibits an increase in time to perform a stated task of no more than about 25 percent when measured in accordance with ASTM Standard F2010-10, Standard Test Method for Evaluation of Glove Effects on Wearer Hand Dexterity.
 2. The glove of claim 1, wherein the glove exhibits a puncture resistance of at least 77 Newtons when measured in accordance with Standard EN 388:2003.
 3. The glove of claim 1, wherein the core is formed from a stainless steel filament.
 4. The glove of claim 3, wherein the core includes a UHMWPE filament.
 5. The glove of claim 1, wherein the sheath is formed from two wraps of filaments, the two wraps of filaments being in opposite directions.
 6. The glove of claim 5, wherein one of the sheath filaments is a polyester fiber.
 7. The glove of claim 5, wherein the other of the sheath filaments is a polyester fiber. 